WD enhances India channel strategy

Western Digital, a global hard drive manufacturer, unveiled
its enhanced channel strategy and expansion plans for India recently. In its
continuing efforts to broad-base its India operations, WD is implementing a
three-segment channel model, based on its customer profile and appointed
strategic distributors, to address the market. The three segments are: strategic
OEM, value and reseller/SI channel.

The Value segment includes key systems integrators (SI) and
VARs and will be the responsibility of value distributors, namely Ingram Micro
and eSys Information Technologies. Volume distributors will address the reseller
and SI segment. WD has appointed regionally focused volume distributors:
Champion Computers, New Delhi; Inspan Infotech, Chennai; Lalani Infotech,
Kolkota; and Venktron Digital System, Mumbai. 

The company has also tied up with Mediaman Infotech, Mumbai,
to address the fast-growing external drive and retail segments in India.
Starting January 2006, WD will be undertaking a 5-city road show across Delhi,
Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata, where partners and customers will be
able to experience first hand the range of the company's product
offerings. 

Coinciding with these initiatives, WD will launch in calendar
2006 new products across its desktop, notebook, enterprise and external product
lines. These launches will be in line with international product introductions,
bringing next-generation global storage technologies to the Indian market. 

Commenting on these initiatives, Sharad Srivastava, Sales Director, South
Asia and India said, "WD has set some aggressive goals for itself in India.
Given the relationships that we have forged within the distributor community, as
well as the encouragement from our OEM partners, we are poised for tremendous
growth. Through these new relationships we are looking to expand WD's reach to
a large number of cities. Warranty service will be provided by five WD-operated
service centres through distribution partners."

DQC NEWS BUREAU